What is a certificate of insurance?

Evidence that an insurance policy has been issued, showing the amount and type of insurance provided. It may be used as evidence of reinsurance between companies, and it is the document containing specific details of property covered by Master or Open Policies. Marine insurance copies marked "original" and "duplicate" are issued as negotiable documents. In other words a printed certificate that states the essential provisions of your coverage, often required by customers who want proof you have insurance.